avatar_John Howling Mouse

B-21 Bomber "Mini-Fortress"

Started by John Howling Mouse, February 17, 2008, 05:51:25 PM

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John Howling Mouse

Go back a page to read some excellent tutorial text from Kitnut617.  I've made a few decisions:
- I'll work with this Airfix kit as a beta-test; learnings will be transferred to better kits later;
- I'm going to stick with tricycle landing gear (removal of the chin turret fairing is next);
- I moved the wing back per Robert's suggestion (more difficult to fair in the leading edge of the wingroot than the rear but relocating the wings back does allow me to go to tricycle landing gear;
- I've decided to square off the wingtips, tailfin and stabs----gives it a more modern look like an A-26 on steroids;
- I've removed the tailgunner position as I've read was done with a lot of B-25's but the waist guns stay (I have to make a new, staggered gunport on the starboard side)

Turboprops and/or counter-rotating props would be a cool feature but that will have to come on a future kitbash using a better kit once I've learned how to properly make the cuts Kitnut617 suggested.





Styrene in my blood and an impressive void in my cranium.

jcf

Something else you may want to consider is to reduce the size of the horizontal tail.

Jon

kitbasher

Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on February 18, 2008, 10:55:58 AM
Something else you may want to consider is to reduce the size of the horizontal tail.
Nah, keep the tail and call it a Boeing Tornado!!
Nice whiffing, by the way. ;D ;D
What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Hurricane IIb/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/M21/P1103 (early)/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter

John Howling Mouse

#18
Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on February 18, 2008, 10:55:58 AM
Something else you may want to consider is to reduce the size of the horizontal tail.

Jon

Yeah, even clipped, it still seems a bit wide.  Which is fine for it's big brother, the lumbering Fortress, but not so great for this more nimble Mini-Fort!

Edit: Okay, they're snipped down another scale 18.75 inches.
Styrene in my blood and an impressive void in my cranium.

jcf

Maybe use the proportions on the Model 298 drawing as guide to reducing the horizontal tail size?


This is one I've been thinking about doing.


Jon

B777LR

Hi Baz!

This would be nice in Vietnam! Even better, make some custom markings, making it a "rogue soldiers air force", breakaway air force for soldiers tired of fighting for the goverment! :wub: (aka kellys heroes)

Brian da Basher

You know, with that huge tail it's going to look a lot like a Douglas B-23 Dragon.



Brian da Basher

John Howling Mouse

I swear this model kit hates me as much as I hate it.  Will be interesting to see which of us prevails.

Wheel well cutlines (gear rotate forward to be partially embedded in the aft part of the engine nacelle):



After they're drilled, cut and filed to shape:



Waist gunner positions get some interior details you won't be able to see once the fuselage is (hopefully) closed up.  There are little gun mounts on short tables that come out from the fuselage walls.

Styrene in my blood and an impressive void in my cranium.

Eddie M.

It is very satisifying to see Master Baz working his majic! :ph34r:
   Eddie
Look behind you!

John Howling Mouse

That's how I feel looking for everyone else's posted updates, too.

Made a tiny bit of progress tonight on about four subjects, one of them this bomber:



The wheel well box-ins are extremely basic.  Doubt you'll see much once it's down on its gear.  But it beats having wide open holes under there.  I think....

Styrene in my blood and an impressive void in my cranium.

kitnut617

Quote from: John Howling Mouse on February 18, 2008, 09:00:53 AM

Kitnut617 sent me some fantastic "how-to" advice which I'm hoping he won't mind me sharing here on the forum.  In fact, his pics and text should be turned into a full-blown article (I'd be happy to submit this on his behalf as long as he's okay with it).  His method is really the only way this will stand a chance of success, so I think it's time I pull out that great little Matchbox kit and use it instead of the Airfix one I've already butchered (incorrectly).


The method is for you and anyone else to use as they want Barry, feel free and I'm only too glad to be of some help.

Robert
If I'm not building models, I'm out riding my dirtbike

Ian the Kiwi Herder

Enuff of all this fantastic chopping'n chanelling, what we really all want to know is simply this:-

"Mr. Shrieking Rodent....... do you keep a new clean cutting board just for taking pictures or are you one of those truly irritating folks who just dont make any mess ?"

Ian
"When the Carpet Monster tells you it's full....
....it's time to tidy the workbench"

Confuscious (maybe)

ysi_maniac

^^^^ You are right IHG ...  :huh:

What I know is that 'he does not make mess with models, anyway'
:o :wub: :banghead:
Will die without understanding this world.

John Howling Mouse

Quote from: Ian the Hunter-Gatherer on February 19, 2008, 06:23:54 AM
Enuff of all this fantastic chopping'n chanelling, what we really all want to know is simply this:-

"Mr. Shrieking Rodent....... do you keep a new clean cutting board just for taking pictures or are you one of those truly irritating folks who just dont make any mess ?"

Ian

Weird, you must be psychic.  Tonight, just before reading your post, I looked over at my modeling table and thought "What a mess----I should upload a picture of THIS to show the What If guys just how bad it gets."

Styrene in my blood and an impressive void in my cranium.

Scooterman

There's something wrong with that pic.  Where is the beer bottle?



And why in most pics that have the youngin' in them, she has the look that she just heard something that she shouldn't have and is about to say "I'm going to tell mommy!"